What do you think?
Rate this book
Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good: Larry David and the Making of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm
?As a comedian, then producer of Seinfeld, and now the creator and star of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David has a fanatical following. In his early stand-up days, if he walked on stage and didn’t like the crowd, he would walk off. Together with Jerry Seinfeld, he pitched NBC on a sitcom where nothing happens. A whole show could be about waiting in line at a Chinese restaurant. And somehow Seinfeld became the most successful comedy show of all time. After nine years of writing and producing Seinfeld, and after making a huge amount of money, Larry David began to create a new show for HBO. Without much separation between himself and the character he plays, Curb follows the daily routines of Larry David. Being politically correct is far from Larry’s mind, and the audience cringes as he berates, torments, and blusters his way into the hearts of TV watchers. Follow the early exploits of Larry’s stand-up career, his days writing for Seinfeld, and learn how Curb was conceived and developed. Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good – titled after Larry’s key catchphrase – also explores Larry’s on- and off-screen relationships with famous pals like Richard Lewis, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, and the cast of Seinfeld, and contains an in-depth episode guide to Curb Your Enthusiasm.
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2010
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 2, 2021
Curb Your Criticism
I have seen all CURB episodes twice. So, I found this book a welcoming informational guide. It was a pleasure to recall episodes as the author gave side notes, opinions and detailed scenes. This for all of us curbside fans and bald brethren.
I have seen all CURB episodes twice. So, I found this book a welcoming informational guide. It was a pleasure to recall episodes as the author gave side notes, opinions and detailed scenes. This for all of us curbside fans and bald brethren.
Read
March 8, 2011I'd like my two hours back, Josh Levine. This book is basically a lengthy Wikipedia entry, complete with a ridiculously chunky episode guide and list of references for articles written by people who actually spoke to Larry David. Nice business model, I admit, but dull reading.
June 21, 2026
I give this book 2 out of 3 “pretty” from the title. Wish it went into more detail, but overall a really fun read.
December 31, 2010
In spite of the title, this book is actually just sort of okay. In the age of Wikipedia, there's just no excuse for padding out your book with an episode guide that is mostly plot description with a little light analysis. Still, it's a nice biography of the show.
September 29, 2024
Fans of "Seinfeld" or "Curb" would have heard all of this already. In the year of Curb Your Enthusiasm's final season, I was eager to learn more about how this cult show came about. But, I was disappointed. Not only the book is dated (it stops at season 7), but also contains information that one can easily find online. I would say it is a useful introduction for those who wants to find more about Larry David's world in one place.
June 15, 2026
I guess with an unofficial guide of a show it runs the risk of just being a collection of things you already know and have read before. And this is what happened here.
Basically a detailed Wikipedia. Especially the last quarter which just goes through every single episode with a short summary. Really didn't need that. Blasted through that portion
Might have to drop the $70 on that official one I think just came out
2/5
Basically a detailed Wikipedia. Especially the last quarter which just goes through every single episode with a short summary. Really didn't need that. Blasted through that portion
Might have to drop the $70 on that official one I think just came out
2/5
August 7, 2011
An exercise in clever marketing, this.
I was worried from the short introduction, when Levine takes one page to describe why "Curb Your Enthusiasm"'s fans like the series, but can only manage one short paragraph on how non-fans don't find anger funny. What I'd expected to be an analysis of one of my favourite series didn't even mention the show's slips into creaky plotting, obvious twists and the risk of crumbling under the formula. Still, I progressed cautiously.
The book's blurb describes it as:
+ "A biography of Larry David": well, perhaps. Levine compiles a couple of tiny chapters on David's early life and career, cribbed from pre-existing interviews, articles and "Seinfeld" DVD extras. It was little I didn't know before, and Levine's prose was somewhat clunky, but it cobbles together the basics. Of course, I wouldn't be the first reviewer on this website to argue that you could find 60% of this on Wikipedia. Levine at least manages to note where most of his former collaborators pop up in either of David's two famous TV series.
+ "The making of 'Seinfeld'": I'd dispute that a little. Covering all of five pages, Levine gives us the basics of the making of the pilot, and then roughly a sentence per season - all information which can be found on the DVD extras, I assure you - without really any analysis. Perhaps that's the main problem. While I understand that it was probably the publishers who added "Seinfeld" onto the book's subtitle, and not the author, it's still unfortunate that Levine couldn't have given us even a minute of analysis. Instead, he's basically just happy to state what happened in as few words as possible. Calm down, Levine, no-one's racing you.
+ "The making of Curb Your Enthusiasm": at least here there were a few surprises, since I haven't seen much supplementary material on this series. Levine covers basic casting and goes into more detail here about preconceptions of the series. However, he can't fight the fact that he himself admits: David had the money, the cachet and the network approval to do whatever he really wanted. This is the story of a TV show which - although, like any program, came together through the confluence of so many events - really had to fight for nothing once it got on the air. Having said that, I've amended my initial, rather cynical view of this section. Although he's only compiling information from pre-existing sources, Levine does manage to give a pretty good overview of the making of the series, and the ways in which David and his actors developed the series into the cult phenomenon it is today.
+ "Analysis of the series": a bit rich. I've only browsed this latter section thus far (bathroom reading, anyone?), but it seems to consist at least half of an episode guide. Not only is that a bit much for an improv series, but I would've appreciated something more than what could be found on the internet. As a kid I really enjoyed those in-depth episode guides for "The X-Files", but in this age of DVDs and Netflix, can't most people just watch the series? Levine is clearly a fan, and he gives lavish and evocative descriptions of the episodes. He's not completely unaware of the series' sometimes structural flaws, but doesn't venture as many opinions as one would like, particularly when he's devoted two pages over to a single half-hour episode.
(Two examples: 1) In the episode "Shaq", Larry's oft-downtrodden luck changes for the better until the episode's final scene. From this, Levine surmises that luck is a fleeting thing. Why not use this opportunity to examine how - in spite of the usual formula of shows with unlucky protagonists - Larry quite often has luck turn in his favour, or has season-long arcs that actually work out for him on occasion, refuting many series? 2) There's an instance where Larry witnesses a river baptism but interrupts, mistaking it for a murder attempt. Are we really to believe that Larry is so ignorant of an act that has featured in many iconic film and TV scenes throughout time? And if not, how does this fit into Larry's portrayal of Judaism?)
I've been spoiled, it's true, by great analytic books such as Running Through Corridors: Rob and Toby's Marathon Watch of Doctor Who or Wanting to Believe: A Critical Guide to The X-Files, Millennium and The Lone Gunmen. "Curb" is one of my favourite comedies of the last decade, and I would have enjoyed some more academic analysis of the series' pros and cons, reasons for its popularity, and questions such as whether we needed "Seinfeld" to precondition us for this, or whether the series' treatment of gender, sex, race, materialism, arrogance, modern-day Judaism, etc, are timely or not. In short, SOMETHING. Still, I did enjoy the basic information that was provided, even if it seemed to rest primarily on the surface. No-one could accuse Josh Levine of being an author, but well done to him for picking a subject he enjoys and making a few bucks out of it.
I was worried from the short introduction, when Levine takes one page to describe why "Curb Your Enthusiasm"'s fans like the series, but can only manage one short paragraph on how non-fans don't find anger funny. What I'd expected to be an analysis of one of my favourite series didn't even mention the show's slips into creaky plotting, obvious twists and the risk of crumbling under the formula. Still, I progressed cautiously.
The book's blurb describes it as:
+ "A biography of Larry David": well, perhaps. Levine compiles a couple of tiny chapters on David's early life and career, cribbed from pre-existing interviews, articles and "Seinfeld" DVD extras. It was little I didn't know before, and Levine's prose was somewhat clunky, but it cobbles together the basics. Of course, I wouldn't be the first reviewer on this website to argue that you could find 60% of this on Wikipedia. Levine at least manages to note where most of his former collaborators pop up in either of David's two famous TV series.
+ "The making of 'Seinfeld'": I'd dispute that a little. Covering all of five pages, Levine gives us the basics of the making of the pilot, and then roughly a sentence per season - all information which can be found on the DVD extras, I assure you - without really any analysis. Perhaps that's the main problem. While I understand that it was probably the publishers who added "Seinfeld" onto the book's subtitle, and not the author, it's still unfortunate that Levine couldn't have given us even a minute of analysis. Instead, he's basically just happy to state what happened in as few words as possible. Calm down, Levine, no-one's racing you.
+ "The making of Curb Your Enthusiasm": at least here there were a few surprises, since I haven't seen much supplementary material on this series. Levine covers basic casting and goes into more detail here about preconceptions of the series. However, he can't fight the fact that he himself admits: David had the money, the cachet and the network approval to do whatever he really wanted. This is the story of a TV show which - although, like any program, came together through the confluence of so many events - really had to fight for nothing once it got on the air. Having said that, I've amended my initial, rather cynical view of this section. Although he's only compiling information from pre-existing sources, Levine does manage to give a pretty good overview of the making of the series, and the ways in which David and his actors developed the series into the cult phenomenon it is today.
+ "Analysis of the series": a bit rich. I've only browsed this latter section thus far (bathroom reading, anyone?), but it seems to consist at least half of an episode guide. Not only is that a bit much for an improv series, but I would've appreciated something more than what could be found on the internet. As a kid I really enjoyed those in-depth episode guides for "The X-Files", but in this age of DVDs and Netflix, can't most people just watch the series? Levine is clearly a fan, and he gives lavish and evocative descriptions of the episodes. He's not completely unaware of the series' sometimes structural flaws, but doesn't venture as many opinions as one would like, particularly when he's devoted two pages over to a single half-hour episode.
(Two examples: 1) In the episode "Shaq", Larry's oft-downtrodden luck changes for the better until the episode's final scene. From this, Levine surmises that luck is a fleeting thing. Why not use this opportunity to examine how - in spite of the usual formula of shows with unlucky protagonists - Larry quite often has luck turn in his favour, or has season-long arcs that actually work out for him on occasion, refuting many series? 2) There's an instance where Larry witnesses a river baptism but interrupts, mistaking it for a murder attempt. Are we really to believe that Larry is so ignorant of an act that has featured in many iconic film and TV scenes throughout time? And if not, how does this fit into Larry's portrayal of Judaism?)
I've been spoiled, it's true, by great analytic books such as Running Through Corridors: Rob and Toby's Marathon Watch of Doctor Who or Wanting to Believe: A Critical Guide to The X-Files, Millennium and The Lone Gunmen. "Curb" is one of my favourite comedies of the last decade, and I would have enjoyed some more academic analysis of the series' pros and cons, reasons for its popularity, and questions such as whether we needed "Seinfeld" to precondition us for this, or whether the series' treatment of gender, sex, race, materialism, arrogance, modern-day Judaism, etc, are timely or not. In short, SOMETHING. Still, I did enjoy the basic information that was provided, even if it seemed to rest primarily on the surface. No-one could accuse Josh Levine of being an author, but well done to him for picking a subject he enjoys and making a few bucks out of it.
February 19, 2019
This is not a life-changing or groundbreaking book by any means, but I learned a few things about Larry David, Seinfeld, and Curb that I didn't know before. A good part of the book is an episode guide, so it was kind of fun to revisit the plots of some of my favorite Curb episodes. It was a light read for before bed.
September 24, 2021
I was not pleased with this book at all. I should have dug deeper, but it’s my fault for not reading up on this book.
Half of the book is more like a TV guide than a book. And even the pages that weren’t the aforementioned “TV guide”, there was still too much of a synopsis going on in each chapter.
This book felt like it was just an after thought… “oh maybe I’ll write a book about this subject”, then had no clue what to put in it.
Definitely a one star rating. Do yourself a favour, if you love Larry David. find yourself another book about him. Because this one, is not the one.
Half of the book is more like a TV guide than a book. And even the pages that weren’t the aforementioned “TV guide”, there was still too much of a synopsis going on in each chapter.
This book felt like it was just an after thought… “oh maybe I’ll write a book about this subject”, then had no clue what to put in it.
Definitely a one star rating. Do yourself a favour, if you love Larry David. find yourself another book about him. Because this one, is not the one.
April 20, 2023
Worst biography ever.
The author doesn’t offer any insight uncovered from research or interviews. Instead this book tells the story of Larry David available in a few easy to find interviews.
The majority of the book is an episode by episode synopsis of Curb Your Enthusiasm, along with the author’s personal opinion about when the comedy worked for him and when it didn’t.
This book would only be meaningful to people you love the author personally and cares what he thinks is funny or not funny.
The author doesn’t offer any insight uncovered from research or interviews. Instead this book tells the story of Larry David available in a few easy to find interviews.
The majority of the book is an episode by episode synopsis of Curb Your Enthusiasm, along with the author’s personal opinion about when the comedy worked for him and when it didn’t.
This book would only be meaningful to people you love the author personally and cares what he thinks is funny or not funny.
November 13, 2021
Love Curb and anyone else who does will most likely dig this book. There is an amusing analysis of every episode (as of 2010) that brought them all back for me. So, it’s an easy read but the idea this was sorta thrown together kinda bugged me. It seemed the author just deep dived into existing interviews instead of doing any of his own. The sited sources confirm this suspicion compellingly. Still, it was a breezy read so, if you’re a fan, the title sums up the quality.
February 16, 2025
The first portion of the book is great as it reveals the behind the scenes insights to Larry David and Curb, but not so much Seinfeld as the subtitle of the book would have you believe. It’s a great book don’t get me wrong, but I wish it focused evenly on both Seinfeld and Curb. And half the book is just an episode guide so yeah. First half is good, second half….. eh
May 2, 2021
I very much enjoyed this book. It's very interesting to get the background stories
and it was very well written. It was worth it to me to get this book. I will probably
enjoy going over it again in the future. There are synopsis of episodes for reference
at the last quarter of the book.
and it was very well written. It was worth it to me to get this book. I will probably
enjoy going over it again in the future. There are synopsis of episodes for reference
at the last quarter of the book.
June 26, 2021
For fans of Larry David...
....and Curb Your Enthusiasm.. I am a big fan of both so this book was particularly interesting. The first part is a brief bio of Larry David and the second is a synopsis of all the shows up until the book was published.
....and Curb Your Enthusiasm.. I am a big fan of both so this book was particularly interesting. The first part is a brief bio of Larry David and the second is a synopsis of all the shows up until the book was published.
November 19, 2025
Pretty, pretty, pretty meh. I admit I’ve never seen Curb, but was interested in hearing more about it. I thought the book was pretty good, but it ended with a very lengthy episode guide that read like a tv guide
June 1, 2026
Audiobook. I love Curb but never really got into Seinfeld, but it was a good listen about the making of both. I love Larry David, so I wish it would have been more a biography about him but learning about how they made the shows was fun
June 11, 2017
Simple read nice insight to Larrys weird world
September 7, 2017
Pretty, pretty, pretty boring. And I love everything in the title.
June 23, 2020
Interesting, like a Wikipedia entry
February 27, 2023
Well written but much of it is focused on breakdowns and summaries of the various Curb episodes.
February 5, 2024
Quintessential Larry David, fiction and non-fiction.
November 17, 2025
Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Average.
December 1, 2025
It was fine. No amazing insights. A mediocre documentary of how Curb got started and what happened during production.
February 8, 2026
As a fan of Larry David I did mostly enjoy this book, however the episode catalogue is pretty dull.
May 4, 2026
great book about the legend. Highly recommend for any fan of Larry David.
June 3, 2026
It was pretty pretty pretty good.
June 20, 2026
Larry's a train wreck, i love a humorous train wreck and learning how Larry ticks along.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews